[005; audio; open]

[perceptum]

[ There's no warning as the audio starts, and it seems very likely that River isn't actually addressing the network at large at all. It cuts in mid sentence, to the rustling sound of movement and near incoherent rambling from River. ]

-but it wasn't meant to go like this. What went wrong? Something went wrong, was it her calculations? The numbers twisted and broke and now so much is lost and how are they supposed to find out why? Pushed too hard and too fast, why did he let her try? Why did I try?

[ She stops talking very abruptly, exhales slowly, and then for the first time actually sounds like she's talking to the network, like it isn't just an accidental pick up of a private conversation featuring one. ]

She's sorry. She didn't- it wasn't meant to happen. So, so sorry.

[ Without any indication of who she's apologising to, she cuts the feed. ]

Comments

[text]

[perceptum]

It was pushing that got her into all this trouble you know.

[ But...as much as she wants to be alone, she wants Simon's presence more, so a few moments later he gets another response. ]

Let her breathe, give her time. Thirty minutes of fresh air, and then she'll come back. Promise.

[text]

[pompous_today]

[It's a while before Simon replies, and he's kind of glad it's text, because the curtness of her answer hurt.]

Then he won't push, even if that wasn't his intent. I will wait for you. Take all the time you need. He'll be in their room.